Maximize Personal Productivity - Do email exactly twice a day

Former Netscape CEO Marc Andreessen says that Email is a flow killer - it steals your attention. He suggests checking email messages just twice a day - keep your email client shut and your email notifications turned off. WWD weighs in:

Of course, in the real world, it’s not always completely possible. However, if you make your clients and co-workers aware that this is your approach, they will soon learn to deal with your mid-morning and late afternoon mail avalanche as you wipe out the email pile.

Marc is absolutely correct when he says that email is a flow killer. It can be a huge interruption to your ability to actually complete other work. Jumping in and out of email is concentration destructive. Set your email to check just once an hour for new mail (or get really brave and do it manually on your twice a day schedule). Link

[tags]productivity[/tags]